Nearby Theaters

Today at this address is located the Bainbridge Free Library, and the Town Hall Theatre, which was the former Bainbridge Opera House.

It was built in 1909-1910, opening in 1910 with “H.M.S. Pinafore”. The auditorium is on the second floor of the building, with seating on two levels for 260 on the orchestra floor and 150 in the balcony. It served as a municipal building (for live performances etc), a library and jail. It was converted into the Avon Theatre in 1938, becoming a full time movie theatre. This was closed in the 1950’s. The building then lay unused until 1974.

Since then, it has reverted back to live theater use, and has gradually been restored. Restoration was completed at the end of 2009.

This theatre was reopened around 1980 for live stage performances; my mother performed “The Madwoman of Chaillot” there in 1982. I do not know if it’s still in operation or not, but it was the last I knew.

This theatre is unusual in my experience in that it is/was wider than it is long.

I should have added, in answer to the above question, that the theatre is above the library, on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The website below indicates that the Town Hall Theatre, as it has been called since its last reopening, is again being renovated in preparation for its 100th anniversary in 2010.